Depends how much he/she owes.You can compare these addictions, of course, but alcohol or drug addiction usually leads to the death of the addict, while a gambling addict has every chance to at least stay alive.
I think the same way!Can Poker be compared to alcohol or drug addiction?!. I think, no directly, because on alcohol and drugs Health and Money are only wasting...
But at Poker we can reverse: to earn Money, and to correct with them our Health! But this is only my private opinion!